It has been a busy week so this blog will be a little shorter. I had the privilege of participating in our local NAWBO/Women in Leadership Annual Conference last week and preparing kept me busy. It was a wonderful day with 300 women enjoying speakers, shopping, networking, lunch, and so much more. I had a great time but boy was I tired. I met so many wonderful ladies and I am looking forward to connecting with them again soon.
A welcoming entryway
Longaberger 1896 basket with fairy lights
Last week I shared my dining room Fall decor. I thought this week I would share the rest of my decor. I always do a little in each room and focus on key areas to create vignettes. My foyer table is changed out each season. This year I took my Longaberger wreath and added Fall garland and acorns as the centerpiece. I like to try to reuse and repurpose as much as I can.
Love a tiered tray
Mackenzie-Childs pumpkins add a touch of Fall
Warm and inviting
In my family room, I try to concentrate on the fireplace area and built-in area. I had not used my tired tray in a couple of years and decided to fill that with all things Fall. A big impact! The fireplace looks festive with pumpkins and decor from Mackenzie-Childs.
My potting bench is so versatile
Perfect spot for a cup of tea
The porch is another favorite area. My potting bench is a treasured piece, and I always add to its decor each season. Switching the pillows on the bench is a quick way to make a change too. Mums, pumpkins, and gourds finished out all of the decor.
Fairy lights add a little glow
Perfect decor for Fall
I hope you have time to enjoy all that Fall has to offer. The weather is finally starting to feel more like Fall so I am hoping to have our first bonfire and smores of the season soon.
Can you believe that we are a month into the new year already? It feels like we were just celebrating the holidays. January is always cold and dreary in the Midwest so we headed out to the Desert Southwest to spend the next couple of months. I enjoy spending time outside and the abundant sunshine. The little dogs like it too. They were not amused by the cold weather. We are going to do a little landscaping and hopefully watch some baseball. Guests will come in and out and we always enjoy sharing our home with our friends and family. But, it’s the start of a new month and that means new things that I have been enjoying. Enjoy.
The harsh Midwest winter had been doing a number on my skin. It was so unhappy and reactive. A friend recommended that I try Tula Sensitive Skin Treatment Drops. Just a few drops of this mixed with my serum have made such a difference. I notice my skin is not so red and irritable. I plan on keeping this in my routine twice a day for the foreseeable future.
Fresh flowers make me so happy. I treat myself to flowers almost every week. Having them in my kitchen just brings a smile to my face. The local markets always have a nice selection and I usually just pick one up there. During the summer, I really enjoy cutting fresh hydrangeas, roses, and black-eyed Susans from my own flowerbeds.
Fresh flowers every week
Speaking of flowers and landscaping, I needed some new landscape lights. Between the dogs and landscaper, a few of my traditional lights are run over. I decided to try these LED lights from Amazon that are flush to the ground. My friend has them and they look so nice in her flowerbeds. Let’s hope these don’t get crushed too.
Mornings and evenings here in the desert are chilly. Layers are a must. A classic, roomy sweater is a must, and this one from Carrie Kelly Lifestyle fits the bill perfectly. It’s comfortable, on-trend, and personalized.
A cup of tea or hot chocolate is a must for me every day. A pretty teapot makes it even better. Mackenzie-Childs carries a selection of beautiful teapots. The black and white courtly check is a favorite pattern of mine.
These are just a few of my current favorites. Valentine’s Day is coming up and I hope you enjoy the day. Next week, my friends and I are doing a virtual Galentine’s Day, it’s going to be fun. If you have any favorites that I should try, let me know. I love trying new products!
Carrie Kelly is an Interior Redesign Industry Specialist and Lead Designer at Carrie Kelly Designs specializing in interior redesign, seasonal, and home decor helping clients create beautiful spaces in their homes without the time and expense of a full remodel. She is also a Personal Stylist with Carrie Kelly Boutique, a boutique featuring all things monogrammed and personalized for your unique style. Carrie is also the author of Pineapples and Sweet Tea, a Lifestyle blog, and co-author of the #1 best-selling book The Art of Connection.
Spring has sprung! I am so happy to see bits of color popping up and plants coming back to life. I love the change of seasons, and I think Spring is the perfect time to refresh and lighten up my decor. I started with the kitchen. I am spending some time at my home in Arizona and I like to keep the look light and bright in here to complement the darker cabinetry.
I love the lemon decor for the kitchen and when Initial Outfitters released a new lemon print line, I knew it would be perfect for my kitchen. The lemon wreath and vase of lemons were already part of my decor. Organizing things together gives a clean look, and this tray from Mackenzie-Childs holds my soaps, lotions, and cleaners. I swapped out my placemats for this lemon design personalized from Initial Outfitters and it really lightened up the counter area. Simple changes can make the biggest difference. Last year I also swapped out my darker barstools for lighter ones too. I like to mix and match my finishes.
Simple and Organized
Give Me All The Lemons
Tea and Coffee Bar
The main counter got a spruce as well. The Royal Check collection from Mackenzie Childs has become my new favorite collection. The bright blue is gorgeous, and I love how you can mix and match all of their collections and still have a cohesive look. I have many Courtly Check pieces. The blue with the hot pink orchid from HomeGoods give the counter a pop of color, and I love hot pink and blue together. I’m starting to collect the Royal Check collection piece by piece. Again, I use trays to organize items. By the cooktop, I’m using a slate tray from Initial Outfitters to organize my everyday spices. The charcuterie board is also IO. I love the glass cutting boards, and I always have a couple of them displayed in my kitchen. I change the wooden cutout on the wreath above the cooktop for every season and holiday to create a new look. Simple. Of course, I had to have the lemon design. Google home keeps me organized and I use it to play music, give me recipes, and general info.
Trays Keep Everything Organized
Focal Point Above The Cooktop
Cooktop Decor
Mackenzie-Childs Royal Check
My kitchen table is one of my favorites. A beautiful focal point in the room, and I always have it set properly. Fresh flowers are always a must. Again, I’m using the Parchment Check pattern from Mackenize-Childs vase as a centerpiece as well as the napkin holder. The monogrammed runner from IO is a fun addition too. Fun flamingo placemats and plates from Pier 1 with pink napkins and hydrangea rings complete the table look. I recovered the chairs a few years ago from a dark fabric to a fun and lighter design.
Kitchen Place Setting
Proper Kitchen Table
Lemon Cutting Board
I really like the results from my kitchen makeover. It really was quick. I just added the IO lemon design pieces, Mackenzie-Childs Royal Check pieces, and swapped out the placemats on the kitchen table. Five minutes and I have a new look perfect for Spring. Are you changing your decor for Spring?
Carrie Kelly is an Interior Redesigner Industry Specialist and Lead Designer at Carrie Kelly Designs specializing in interior redesign, seasonal, and home decor helping clients create beautiful spaces in their homes without the time and expense of a full remodel. She is also an Independent Consultant with Initial Outfitters, a boutique featuring all things monogrammed and personalized for your unique style. Carrie is also the author of Pineapples and Sweet Tea, a Lifestyle blog, and co-author of the #1 best-selling book The Art of Connection.
I really enjoy decorating for each season. Each season has its own feel, color schemes, and scents For fall, I like to bring in some richer colors, metallics, and lots of candles. You can never have enough candles. My favorites are ones on timers or with remote controls so you don’t even need to worry about them. Everything looks better with the glow of candlelight, especially with it getting darker earlier in the evening.
A few things I like to do is to concentrate the bulk of my decor in just a few spaces and sprinkle a little throughout the rest of the house. Create a big bang in a few areas. I usually concentrate on my foyer, mantle, fireplace, and shelving in my family room, staircase, and dining table. I will pair some of my high-end Mackenzie-Childs pieces with pieces I find at DollarTree, Walmart, Target, and HomeGoods. They always have a fabulous selection and I frequent them often. All of the box stores have really stepped up their game in the last few years.
As always, decorate however it makes you happy. If you love your decor, it’s perfect. Just have fun with it and hopefully, I can inspire and give you some fresh ideas. Happy decorating.
Carrie Kelly is an Interior Redesigner Industry Specialist and Lead Designer at Carrie Kelly Designs specializing in interior redesign, seasonal, and home decor helping clients create beautiful spaces in their homes without the time and expense of a full remodel. She is also an Independent Consultant with Initial Outfitters, a boutique featuring all things monogrammed and personalized for your unique style. Carrie is also the author of Pineapples and Sweet Tea, a Lifestyle blog.
Spring has sprung. At least here in the Midwest it is trying to. Seems like we have one gorgeous day followed by a few gloomy ones. It is lovely to see the flowers finally start to bloom. I love the change of every season and I enjoy changing my table decor to reflect the current season. This year I went with a classic black and white theme and added a pop of spring color and greenery. I was going for a fresh look after the long winter and wanted to keep it simple.
The custom look of monogrammed pieces always makes a statement. Anything monogrammed or personalized are my favorites. I am a consultant with Initial Outfitters and display our vast array of custom pieces throughout my home and in my decor. First off, a custom table runner sets the tone. Grouping my collection of Emma Bridgewater teapots on a tray in the center of the table looks simple and fresh. They are flanked by Mackenzie Childs candle holders and large vases of faux hydrangeas, my very favorite flower.
The mason jar was something I painted last fall. A fun GNO with friends. I completed the look with buffalo check place mats with custom napkins and napkin rings and added a little greenery. I try to always add a little greenery for a natural element in all of my designs. This was the exact look I was going for simple, clean, and fresh especially after the heavy holiday decorating. It certainly looks like spring to me. Now for the warmer weather to get here.
